An insider's guide to education
THE REPORT of the Innovation Task Force, launched by Taoiseach Brian Cowen last Thursday, is an impressive document, full of hope and ambition for a new Ireland.
The task force says its report is not just for people in white coats in laboratories; it has a relevance for all citizens. The report also name-checks a long list of people who demonstrate Irish talent on the world stage – including U2 (of course) and actors Saoirse Ronan and Colin Farrell (pictured below). Did the former Castleknock College bad boy ever think he would merit this official seal of approval?
The report makes the case for student charges and a properly funded third-level system. It is also implicitly critical of the Leaving Cert, arguing for an education system which fosters creative and independent learning. The report also backs bonus CAO points for maths from 2012. There is now every prospect that this will happen.
To his credit, Batt O’Keeffe has changed his mind on this issue. Initially, he said that curriculum reform – like the new Project Maths initiative – could solve the problem. But he is now warming to the idea of some kind of special incentive to kick-start maths at higher level. An expert group examining the crisis in maths – due to report to the Minister shortly – is also set to back bonus points.
AFTER ALL that dreadful publicity about grade inflation, the higher education sector had an opportunity to regain some ground with the release of the latest CAO figures last week. With a record number of applications, it was good news all round for the colleges – so how did they respond?
Well, actually, most of them said nothing while others pushed out press statements – long after the media had moved on to other matters.
The only colleges to seize the moment were UCD and NUI Maynooth – whose press and marketing people are streets ahead of the competition. Take a bow, Eilis O’Brien, UCD director of communications and Deirdre Watters, marketing and communications manager at NUI Maynooth. But what is going on in the other colleges?
These days every one – even some of the smaller institutes of technology – have armies of expensive public relations and marketing people. But some may need to raise their game.
WE ALL know how our education system is often run for the benefit of insiders – rather than the general public.
Here’s the latest example. We asked the CAO in Galway for information on the number of applications to each university and IT this year. Where is demand up? Where is it falling away?
Guess what? The CAO says it does not release this information as this is a matter for each individual college.
APPLICATIONS FOR that big job as general secretary of the ASTI close today.
Assistant general secretary Pat King is the early front-runner.
But what’s this we hear about some high profile external candidates?
E-mail us, in confidence, at teacherspet@irishtimes.com
